Outbid

READ: LUKE 15; JOHN 15:13; ROMANS 5:5-11

Elle’s dragon, Thon, had run away many times. But never before had he been missing for more than one rotation of the two moons. Elle had hand fed him from his hatching, taught him to fly, nursed him through dragon pox. Loved him. Elle sat up on her bed. The annual dragon market was today at the junkyard for old time machines. Perhaps Thon would be there. She must hurry.

At the auction, she saw him almost at once. Shoulders slumped. A tear in one eye. Her telepathic device was only fourth generation, but it sensed Thon’s despair. “Thon!” she called. He turned his mighty head. If only she could explain her circumstances to the auctioneer before he started the bidding! But she was too late. She was only halfway up the aisle when the first bid rang out. More than she could possibly earn in a lifetime. She shouted out a higher number anyway. Outbid again. Still, she went higher. “450,000 drachs!” An astronomical sum. The other bidder stayed silent.

“Sold!” The auctioneer pointed toward Elle. She made her way to the platform, then whispered, “I don’t have the money, but I had to stop the bidding. That’s my dragon. I raised him from his hatching. Ask him.”

The auctioneer sneered. “This is an auction, not a reunion site. Soldiers, take her away.” Thon bellowed. An agonizing sound. Elle shouted, “Auction me then. I am worth 450,000 drachs.”

The auctioneer bent down. “Why would you do that? Nobody has ever given themselves for the purchase of another. Not in the history of the world.”

“Maybe not in the history of this age,” Elle said softly. “But I have read about another time when a being—the God man—gave His life so others might live. He is called Messiah.”

“Do you love this dragon so much then?” the auctioneer asked. Elle nodded, and something in his countenance changed. “It is not the custom to withdraw dragons once they are entered in the auction. But I believe he must be yours.” He banged his gavel. “Go in peace.” • Carol Raj

• Today’s allegorical story gives us a glimpse of God’s sacrificial love for us. We all run away from God, but He paid the highest price to restore us to Himself. The Messiah, Jesus, willingly went to the cross to die because it was the only way to save us. And then He rose from the grave, defeating sin and death forever. How can these truths give us hope?

“There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” John 15:13 (NLT)